On November 29-December 6, 2003, American Hellenic Institute (AHI) Executive Director Nick Larigakis, accompanied by AHI Advisory Board member and legal counsel, Nick Karambelas, completed his Annual trip to Greece. Mr. Larigakis met with many Greek government officials and business leaders, discussed the organization's goals and objectives and focused on engendering new areas of mutual cooperation and development between leaders in Greece and the Greek American community.

On the occasion of Mr. Larigakis’ trip to Greece, the AHI Athens Chapter hosted a reception on December 1, 2003 at the Athens Plaza Hotel, where Dr. Stratos Safioleas, Athens 2004 International Media Relations Manager, spoke on "The International Press and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games."

The event started with a welcome address by Mr. Ilias Malevitis, President of AHI Athens Chapter and ended with greeting speeches by Nick Karambelas and Nick Larigakis. Over 100 people attended the event from the Greek government, political, business and media sectors. In addition, an Art Exhibit was displayed with an "Olympic Games" theme. Also, the artists donated 4 of their works that were raffled off with the proceeds benefiting the AHI Athens Chapter. The reception was sponsored by Olympic InvestorsLLC, LAVRIS Productions, Ltd., EYROIKISTIKI E.P.E., Morax Publications, T.G.S. Petroleum Co., Inc., Greek Dream, Inc, Greek Voice Radio & TV Stations, and Mr. Jason Stratos.

Messrs. Larigakis and Karambelas met with Athens Mayor, Dora Bakoyianni, where they discussed the 2004 Olympic Games. Mr. Larigakis extended an invitation to Ms. Bakoyianni to attend the 29th Anniversary Hellenic Heritage Achievement and National Public Service Awards Dinner, on March 13, 2004 and to speak on the Athens Olympics.

In separate meetings, Mr. Larigakis met with Ms.Demetra Egan, Manager of Recruitment and Retention of Volunteers for the 2004 Athens Olympics, and Mr.Costas Veloudakis, Section Manager of Ships and Accommodation Department.

From the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Messrs. Larigakis and Karambelas held meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Magriotis and with representatives from the Foreign Ministry's division on Greek American Relations, Dionyssis Kalamvrezos and Ambassador Chrysoula Karikopoulou. In separate meetings, the AHI group also met with Ambassador Elias Clis, Director of the A4 Department for Turkish Affairs, and with Ms.Anna Korka, counselor at the Ministry's A2 Department for Cyprus.

At the U.S. Embassy in Greece, Messrs. Larigakis and Karambelas met with Ambassador Thomas Miller to discuss issues concerning the Olympic Games, and issues of mutual cooperation between the U.S. and the Greek American community.

From the business sector, Mr. Larigakis met with the leadership of the Union of Greek Shipowners, which included President Nicos D. Efthymiou, Secretary Matheos Los and attorney at law Ana Brademas-Savopoulou. A meeting was also held with Mr. Vassos Vamvas of the Hellenic Center for Investment, ELKE.

From the political sphere, Messrs. Larigakis and Karambelas, met with Member of Parliament Grigoris Niotis, and with New Democracy Party Diplomatic Adviser, Georgios S. Koumoutsakos.

From the media sector, meetings were held with Ms.Athena Vorillas, Assistant Supervisor of GE NBC in Greece, Ms.Rozanna Papadopoulos, General manager of Odyssey Magazine, Ms. Katerina Thanasoula, from ERT, and with Konstantinos Alavanos, Director of Audiovisual Production of Vouli TV.

After the completion of his trip, Mr. Larigakis stated: "Mr. Karambelas and I had a very busy week in Athens, but we feel that our meetings were very positive and productive. We are also very optimistic about the possibility regarding a number of projects that we had the opportunity to discuss that would be of mutual interest between AHI and certain entities in Greece."

For digital photographs from AHI's visit to Greece or additional information, please contact Angeliki Vassiliou at (202) 785-8430 or angeliki@ahiworld.org. For general information on AHI, please view our Web site at http://www.ahiworld.org.

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The AHI Business Network is a division of the American Hellenic Institute initiated in1989 to reach out to the business experience of Greek Americans and to put it to work helping other Greek Americans. Its purpose is to share business information and contacts. Its concept is people helping people by sharing experience, knowledge and ideas.